Seattle Seahawks Draft (Part 1 of 3)

This is a three part blog post dedicated towards the first two draft picks that the Seattle Seahawks have in the 2011 NFL Draft. In the first round, the Seahawks have pick #25, and pick #57 in the second round. This blog will focus on the teams needs, the next blog will focus on possible players who they should target, and the last blog will focus on what I believe they should do. So let’s dive right in on the biggest problems the Seahawks face:

OG/OT: Yes, we did draft a blind side offensive tackle last year with the 6^th overall pick in Russell Okung, but we need someone on the right side. Sean Locklear is just not the same player he once was. He is often injured and is just not a dominate force who will not allow the defense past him. Grabbing an offensive tackle in the first two rounds will help build a solid young wall of talent for years to come. The Seahawks were also 31^st in the league in rushing yards, so an upgrade is definitely needed.

Corner: Seattle’s defense ranked 27^th in passing yards allowed at almost 250 yards per game. That is not good. Marcus Trufant is not the shut down corner that the money he is currently making says he is. As for Kelly Jennings (our second starting corner), well he is a free agent and will most likely not be back. That leaves a large hole that needs filling. Selecting a corner early in the draft will help fix this problem. Earl Thomas was an amazing safety selection in last year’s draft. With a new, talented corner drafted this year, plus the skills from Earl Thomas, the Seahawks backfield will be pretty impressive for years to come.

DL: On paper, our defensive line does not look so bad. They were 21^st in total rushing yards allowed with 119, caused 15 forced fumbles (ranked 9^th), and had 37 sacks (ranked 13^th). There was also a few key injuries (Red Bryant and others) that inflated these numbers a little bit. But the Seahawks are about one dominate line player away from having a great line. The Seahawks run a 4-3 style defense, and can either take a defensive tackle or end with these draft picks. Either way, it would create more depth, and also put a true playmaker in the game for us the majority of the time. A player who can put pressure on a quarterback AND stop the run is something every great team needs.

QB: Poor Matt Hasselbeck is getting old. He has also gotten so much blame for how bad his team has been. Sure, some of it has been his fault, but clearly not all of it. It is not his fault he hasn’t had a dominate running back, skilled receivers, or powerful offensive line the past few years. But unfortunately, he gets all the hate. I was just happy to see him play great during the playoffs. With all that said, it is time for a new quarterback. Matt is just not the same as he once was. Every team knows that during a rebuilding period, you need a young and talented quarterback. The important rule is not to reach too far out for a QB. The NFL is QB friendly league, and every team thinks that they need to draft one in the first round if there team had a bad season. Drafting a bad QB is the worst thing humanly possible for a team. Just to name a few, out of many, many examples- JaMarcus Russell, Alex Smith, and Brady Quinn. These players cost their teams millions of dollars and did absolutely nothing. None of them are even starting anymore. Seahawks- if you are going to draft a QB, please be smart about it. Don’t reach too far for a player who you think is a hidden gem.  

WR: Drafting a wide receiver in the early rounds can be a flashy pick, but it is always nice to have a deep threat. Now I am not saying that this should be our main focus, but nobody can predict the draft, and if an amazing receiver falls to us, it makes sense to give it a go. I am sure a lot of people will argue how we draft Golden Tate last year in the second round, or talk about the comeback year from Mike Williams, but a true #1 wide receiver is something you don’t pass on. None of our receivers had anything close to a 1000 yard, 6 touchdown season, so finding a true #1 could be key for many seaons.

So that is my four main areas that the Seattle Seahawks should target with their two picks in the first two rounds. Of course there are many more holes to be filled, especially from a team with a losing record, but a team can’t fix all their problems right away. I strongly believe that by improving these positions first, it will benefit the team so much more in the long run.